Chronicle of the Vale
A “Doomsday” survey of life in the villages of the Vale of Aylesbury in the mid-1980’s. The Friends of the Vale of Aylesbury, 1986
Ilmer village was recorded in this work by Susan Underwood of Ilmer House. Susan passed away on 1st July 2025 aged 89.
Basic Village Structure
| Population | 64 (the book records a population of 61 in other tables) |
|---|---|
| Electoral Roll | 42 |
| Total Houses | 19 |
| Built pre-1900 | 7 |
| 1901-1950 | 9 |
| 1951-1970 | 1 |
| 1971-1980 | 2 |
| 1981-1983 | 0 |
Age Profile
| 0-5 | 6-11 | 12-18 | 19-30 | 31-64 | 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 11.1% | 27.8% | 11.1% | 44.1% | 5.6% |
Length of Association
| Average Years Head of H/H in Village | 10.5 |
|---|---|
| Proportion of Heads of H/H in village over 5 years | 75 |
| Under 5 years | 25 |
| Those under 5 Years in Village How Far Away Previous Domicile | 3 |
| Top 3 Reasons Given for Moving to Villages | Work Move out of city/town Environment/beauty of location |
Distance to work
| % of working heads of H/H who work in village | 25 |
|---|---|
| % of working heads of H/H who do not work in village | 75 |
| Average distance travelled to work | 54 |
| % of those working who use car to get to work | 25 |
The Chronicle records a Fete in May and a Barbeque in August, both at Severalles Farm (Lower Farm). There is a record of a 3 acre allotment and, surprisingly, a public playground. The only Club or Society recorded is a Cricket team. A Church Supper event and Carol Concert are noted.
Transcription
This tiny village on the south side of the high road connecting Thame and Princes Risborough possesses a manor house, formerly held on the tenure of providing supervision of the king's hawk and falcons. Various farms surround it, and their roads and tracks - with one recent exception - provide bridge [sic] paths and pleasant walks, suitable for pushing prams, for the villagers. The first lock gate has now appeared on the new Severelles Farm and is much deplored.
St. Peter's Church was heavily restored in 1860 but a further restoration was undertaken in 1978 after a highly successful church fete which raised, with other donations some £10,000. It continues annually to be held on the bank holiday in late May. Another annual event is the carol services on the third Sunday in December. The original service was so well attended that there is now a children's service during the afternoon.
Modern times have not passed the village by, in that the lights and gantries of the controversial bunker of Strike Command can be seen in the distance. The children of secondary age go to Aylesbury by a yellow double-decker bus but no one wants this huge vehicle turning in their entrances. The pupil's day is a long one, for the bus arrives at 7.45 a.m., and it returns them to the village at 5.30 p.m. At present no child goes to the county secondary school in Princes Risobrough [sic] (four miles away).